Antifriction bearing



Sept. 18, 1928.

J. F. OCONNOR ANTIFRICTION BEARING Filed July 5, 1925 Patented Sept. 18, 1928.

UNITED staresearner Fries.

JOHN I. OCONNOR, OF CHICAGO, 11112? DIS, ASSIGNGB, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

W. H. MINER, INC., A GGRPQRATIOEJ F DELAW'ARE. I

nurrrnrorion Bnaaine.

Application filed July 5,

This invention relates to improvements in anti-friction bearings.

One object of the invention is to provide an anti-iriction bearing especially adapted for use as a side bearing on railway cars, wherein the anti-friction element proper is automatically self-centered under the infiuence ofgravity and without the aid of spring or other fragile parts likely to get out of order. I V

More specifically, an object of the invention is to provide a truck bolster side hearing wherein the anti-friction elementis counter-weighted, the counter weights being so associated with the housing or retaining member that the desired relation between the anti-friction element and the housing is retained at all times and in all positions of the anti-friction element.

In the drawing forming a part of this specification Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view taken through the ends of the body and truck bolsters of a railway car showing my improvements in connection therewith. Figproper shown in Figure 1; And Figure 3 is a vertical, sectional view corresponding substantially to the line 33 of Figure 1.

In said drawing, 10 denotes the upper portion of a truck bolster and 11 the underside of an opposedjbody bolster. of a railway car, the improved bearing being shown attached to the truckbolster and comprises, broadly, a retaining member, housing or base casting A; an anti-friction element proper B; and a pair of counter-weight discs CC.

The housing A is preferably in the form of a malleable casting having a bottom wall 12, vertical side walls 13- -13, and curved end walls 1 114E, the latter conformingto the contour of the anti-friction element when the latteris in-either of its extreme end positions. The housing is provided with suitable end lugs 15 by which it is adapted to be riveted or otherwise rigidly secured to the bolster. Preferably, also, a loosely inserted hardened wear plate 16 is employed in the'bottom of the housing and upon which ure 2 is a top plan view of the side bearing 1922. Serial No. 649,423.

the element B forth.

The anti-friction element proper B is shown in the form of a true cylindrical roller although the form may assume other shapes, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Said element B is provided at a point below the center thereof when it is in central position with a transversely extending opening 17 within which is received a pin 18 having its ends extended beyond the ends of the element Loosely rotatably mounted on said ends of the pins 18 are the two counter-weight discs C whereby said discs are adapted to rotate witlrrespect to said pin 18 during the-actuation of the bearmg.

Each of said counterweight discs C is received within a specially formed guide re cess 19 formed on the inner face of the corresponding side wall of the housing. Each of said recesses 19 has a curved bottom edge 20, rounded end edges 21, the latter being so extended and merged as to provide a downwardly extending rounded projection 22 at the center and top of the recess, as clearly indicated in Figure 1. The contours of said recesses 19 are so formed as to correspond with the lines generated by the upper and lower points of the discs C when the latter are moved by the element B to either side of central position so that said discs C will be prevented from having any appreciable amount of play within said recesses 19, regardles of the position of the anti-friction element B. The pin 18 is preferably inserted through suitable openings 23 formed in the side walls of the housing A, said pin is adapted to roll back and being retained in proper position by plugs 24l24- in said openings 23 the plugs being held by cotters 25-25. g

The anti-friction element B may also be provided with another'transversely extend ing aperture 26 at a point above its center when in central position and within which is received a retaining pin 27, laterally extended ends of the latter working within slightly curved recesses 28 formed in the side walls of the housing A. Said pin 27 is entered through suitable openings 29 in the side walls of the housing and retained in position by plugs '30, the latter being held by cotters 31. To reduce the Weight of the housing A, the side walls thereof may be cored as indicated at 3232,.the openings thus formed also acting as vents to permit foreign matter to be washed or blown out.

It is believed the operation of the device will be understood from the preceding description, it being evident that the counterweights C will be elevated as the element B is moved to either side of central position and hence said counter-weights will be in a position to effect automatic return of the element B. By loosely rotatably mounting the discs C on the pin 18, possibility of binding is reduced to a minimum while at the same time, the relative positions of the element B and housing A are always maintained, that is, opportunity for the element B to shift bodily-with respect to the housing A without a rolling action isprevented.

I have herein shown and described what I now consider the preferred manner of can rying out my invention, but the same is a merely illustrative and I contemplate 'all changes and modifications that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim: I V a 1. In a side bearing for railway cars,,the combination with a housing adapted to be secured to a truck bolster and provided with a bottom bearing surface; of an anti-friction roller disposed within said housing and adapted for rolling movement to either side of central position therein; a pin extending through said roller and located at a point below the center of said roller'when the latter is in central position; circular counterweight discs rotatably mounted on the ends of said pin, said discs being received in guide recesses formed on the inner opposed faces of the housing, the contours of said recesses conforming to the lines generated by said discs as the latter are moved by the roller to either side of central position; and a sec- 0nd pin extending through said roller at a point above its center when in central position, the ends of said pin working within recesses provided on the opposed inner faces of the sidewalls of the housing.

2. In an anti-friction bearing adapted for attachment toa bolster or the like, the com bination with a housing; of an anti-friction element disposed within said housing and adapted for rolling movement to either side of central position therein; a pair of pins projecting through both ends of said element, said pins being in vertical alinement when the element is in its central position; and counterweights carried on both the projecting ends of the lower of said pins, the walls of said housing opposite the upper of said pins and opposite'said counterweights having guide recesses closely conforming to the lines generated by said counterweights and said upper pins as they are moved by the roller to either side of central position.

3. In an anti-friction bearing, the combination with a mounting; of an anti-friction element co-operating with said mounting and adapted to move to either side of central osition thereof, said element being provided with eccentric, spaced projections on its ends, the lowermost of said projections being provided with circular members rotatably mounted thereon and providing counter-weights; and means associated with said mounting and providing spaced guides for the snug movable reception of said projections and said counter-weights, said guides being curved to conform to the paths of movement of said projections and said counter-weights.

4. In an anti-friction bearing, the combination with a retainer; of an anti-friction element disposed in said retainer and adapted to be moved to either side of central position, said element: being provided with eccentric projections; and circular members rotatably mounted on said projections and providing counter-weights for retaining said element in central position, said retainer being provided with guides having their guiding walls spaced apart to afford minimum clearance to permit rotationof said circular members, said guides being curved to conform closely to the paths of movement of said c0unter-weight members.

5. In an anti-friction bearing, the combination with a retainer, of an anti-friction element disposed in said retainer and adapted to move to either side of central position, said element being provided with spaced eccentric projections, one of which is in a lowermost position when said element is in its central position, and the other of which is in an'uppermost osition, said lowermost projection being weighted, the walls of said retainer being provided with a separate independent guide slot/for each of SRiCl'PI'O- jections, the walls of each of said guide slots being-spaced apart to provide a snug sliding fitwith each of said projectionsjsaid walls being curved to conform to the paths of movement of said projections, and the walls of each guide slot terminating in spaced relation with reference to the walls of the other guide slots.

6. In an anti-friction bearing, the com bination with a retainer; of an anti-friction element disposed in said retainer, said ele-- ment having fixed spaced diametrically dis posed eccentric pro ectionsatits e'nd, said retainer being provided with a separate and independent guide slotfor each of saidprojections, whereby one of said projections is prevented from entering the ide slot of the other, the opposite walls 0 each of said no a guide slots being spaced apart to permit a ence to said retainer during rotation of said minimum of operative clearance for said proelement, and maintained in assembled relajections, and said guide slots being curved in tion with said retainer.

a path common with the path of movement In witness that I claim the foregoing I of said projections during the movement of have hereunto subscribed my name'this 30th said anti-friction element to either side of day of June 1923.

central position, whereby said element is prevented from bodily shifting with refer- JOHN F. OCONNOR. 

